Resilient vamp shoe



March 24, 1959 E. B. SHERLOCK RESILIENT VAMP SHOE Filed May 7, 1958 INVENTOR. EDWFIRD B. SHERLOCK BY I (a? HTTORNEY constituting the fore part of the upper.

2,878,596 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 RESILIENT VAMP SHOE Edward B. Sherlock, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Barbara Irma Sherlock, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Application May 7, 1958, Serial No. 733,730

2 Claims. (Cl. 36-61) This invention concerns a shoe structure, and particularly is directed at an improved vamp construction.

A principal object is to provide in a ladys shoe means affording improved resilience of the vamp at the instep of the wearer.

A further object is to provide a means to facilitate putting on and taking ed a shoe, which means also retains the shoe more snugly and comfortably on the foot during wear.

A still further object is to provide a shoe vamp with a pair of inwardly extending tongues joined by elastic means at the instep of the wearer, and a protecting cover for the tongue and elastic means disposed thereover and secured in a novel way to the vamp.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shoe embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the shoe vamp with the protecting cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the outer cover sheet of the shoe vamp.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the lining of the shoe vamp.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shoe protector prior to assembly on the shoe.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one form of tongue connector usable in the invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

In Fig. l is shown a ladys shoe 10 having a vamp 12 The vamp is constituted by a leather cover sheet 14 and a lining 15. The cover sheet and lining are secured together by stitching 16. At the throat portion of the upper or vamp where it contacts the instep of the foot of the wearer is a folded protector 18 for protecting the instep of the wearer. This protector, as best shown in Fig. 6, is of generally rectangular form with curved lateral, bottom and top edges. In the top edge is formed a V-notch 22. A plurality of spaced parallel slits 24 may be formed in the body of the protector. When mounted on the shoe, the protector is folded along dotted line 25 and provides a smooth rounded edge to the wearers instep. Stiching 26 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 secures the protector in place.

A slit 30 is formed in the throat portion of the upper vamp and two inwardly extending tongues 32, 34 are formed in the inner edge of the cover sheet 14 of the tion 18 -foldsunder the liningiand is there secured by stitching 26. If desired, decorative colored lacing 35 can be inserted through the slits 24. This lacing will not interfere with the essential purpose of the slits 24 which is to increase the lateral resiliency of the protector ad-' jacent the instep of the wearer.

Secured by stitching 31 between tongues 32 and 34 is a strip 40 of elastic material such as rubber or elasticized fabric, as best shown in Fig. 3. This strip has sufiicient thickness in its solid body to serve as a cushion at the instep of the wearer. This strip is longitudinally stretchable within the enclosure defined by the folded protector 18. A V-notch 42, best shown in Fig. 5, is

also formed in the lining 15 at the inner edge thereof to increase the resiliency of the vamp at the instep of the wearer. l Instead of a solid strip there can be provided the tubular elastic strip 40 joining the tongues 32, 34 by stitching 31*, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The structure of the vamp disclosed provides a means for rendering a snugly fitting shoe more comfortable to wear because of the resiliency thereof at the instep. The elastic vamp construction makes it easier to remove and to put on the shoe. While the wearer is walking in the shoe, the elastic structure yields with foot movements while always maintaining a smooth, neat and snug fit at the instep. l-

The protector 18 may be made of leather or other sheet material. It may be made of the same material as the cover sheet 14 of the vamp or it may be of different color and texture to provide additionally a decorative elfect.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: 1

1. In a shoe vamphaving an outer cover sheet and an inner lining, a pair of tongues in the outer cover sheet at the edge of the vamp adjacent the instep of the wearer, said tongues extending toward each other and having spaced free ends, a strip of resilient material joining said free ends, a protector overlying and enclosing the tongues and strip, said protector constituting a generally rectangular sheet having one end between the cover sheet and lining and the other end under the lining inside the shoe, stitching securing said protector in place, said protector providing a passage for longitudinal expansion of the resilient strip, said protector having a plurality of spaced slits on an exposed portion thereof between said ends for increasing lateral resiliency of the vamp.

2. In a shoe vamp having an outer cover sheet and an inner lining, a pair of tongues in the outer cover sheet at the edge of the vamp adjacent the instep of the wearer, said tongues extending toward each other and having spaced free ends, a strip of resilient, elastic material joining said free ends, a protector overlying and enclosing the tongues and strip, said protector being a generally rectangular sheet having one end between the shell and lining and the other end under the lining inside the shoe, stitching securing said protector in place, said protector providing a passage to permit longitudinal expansion of the elastic strip, said protector having a plurality of spaced slits on an exposed portion thereof between said ends for increasing lateral resiliency of the vamp, saidt lining having a V-notch at the edge of the vamp adjacent the instep of the wearer, and a lacing extending through said slits to provide a decorative efiecton the protector.

References Cited in the file of this patent 4 Wagner June 18, 1935 Jannings Apr. 26, 1938 Shapiro July 2, 1940 Maling Dec. 18, 1945 

